Česky
The area of paediatric care is now overseen by the Deputy Director for Paediatric Care, Dr Milena Dokoupilová. Her main role will be to foster collaboration between the various teams, listen to their needs and explore new ways of further enhancing the high standard of care already provided. In this interview, she outlines her priorities, opportunities for further development, and the vital role that communication, collaboration and mutual trust play in the care of paediatric patients.
You have been appointed Deputy Director for Paediatric Care. What does this new role mean to you?
I have great respect for it. For me, it represents a mark of trust that I truly value. I have spent my entire professional life working with newborns, but I have also looked after some children for several years afterwards. So the opportunity to contribute to the development of paediatric care across the whole hospital is not only a professional challenge for me, but also something that holds personal significance. I hope to succeed in bringing together the work of all my colleagues across the various departments who are involved in this care. At the same time, I realise what an important role the children’s parents play in any decision-making process.
What motivated you to take on this challenge alongside your existing roles as Chief physician of the Neonatal Unit and Manager of the Hořovice Maternity Hospital?
Probably the fact that I enjoy new challenges and don’t like standing still. Over the last few years, we’ve achieved a great deal together across the whole maternity unit. The Hořovice Maternity Unit is well known throughout the country. I see this as an opportunity to apply the experience I’ve gained on a broader scale.
What will your main priorities be during your first few months in the role?
First and foremost, I want to listen, get to know the needs of all departments and talk to people a lot. I think the best ideas often come directly from those who are with the patients every day. I’ll be delighted if we manage to bring the individual teams even closer together and foster an environment where staff can work well and where patients and their families are satisfied.
Where do you see the greatest opportunities for further developing paediatric care at Hospital Hořovice?
We have a great advantage in that our hospital is able to care for children from the very first minutes of their lives right through to very serious conditions. I see a great opportunity in expanding our specialist expertise, day surgery and the rapidly developing field of integrative paediatric care. I would like parents to realise that here they will receive not only high-quality specialist care, but also support, understanding and a compassionate approach. In my view, this is just as important today as modern medicine – and sometimes even more so.
You will now be overseeing a wide range of departments, from neonatology through the paediatric ward to paediatric intensive care. How do you intend to ensure cooperation between them?
I believe that good relationships and communication are the foundation of everything. The best results are achieved only where people talk to one another, listen to each other and pull together. After all, when people get to know each other better, trust one another and know they can ask each other for help, everything works much more smoothly. My role will be to create the space for such collaboration.
Ultimately, we’re all working towards the same goal – ensuring that children receive the best possible care.
What are you most proud of in terms of neonatal care and the maternity ward in Hořovice?
The people. I know that might sound simple, but it’s true. I’m proud of the team we’ve managed to put together. Of course, it hasn’t always been plain sailing, but I’d go so far as to say that the closer integration of the neonatal and maternity units is working very well, as evidenced by the fact that, despite national trends, the birth rate here has stopped falling and is slowly rising again. I’m delighted by the trust shown by parents who entrust us with their most precious possession – their child.
How long have you been working at Hospital Hořovice? And when you look back on your career, what is your fondest memory?
It’s been 15 years this June. The second half of my professional life has been spent at this hospital. I don’t think there’s one single moment I remember most fondly. Rather, there are many small moments – the joy of parents as they take their child home after a difficult start to life, or the moments when we manage to overcome a challenge. It is precisely these moments that remind me why I truly love my work and see it more as my calling. Every day, I realise just how much trust parents place in us. As both a mother and a grandmother, I know full well how important it is to feel safe, to be listened to, and to be surrounded by people you can trust.
